Assessment of Students’ Participation in Forestry Programmes in Tertiary Institutions in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed students’ participation in forestry programmes in selected tertiary institutions in Southwestern Nigeria, with emphasis on institutions in Ibadan and other key academic centres. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 100 respondents from four major institutions offering forestry programmes. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square analysis. The results showed that the majority of respondents (59%) were within the age range of 20–25 years, while female students (52%) were slightly more than their male counterparts (48%). Students’ participation in forestry programmes was generally moderate to high, as evidenced by high involvement in course registration (93%), class attendance (80%), practical sessions (75%), research activities (82%), and field trips (70%). However, participation in voluntary forestry activities such as tree planting and conservation was relatively low (48%). Major challenges affecting participation included poor internet access (55%), financial constraints (45%), poor departmental funding (43%), lack of modern facilities (39%), and limited internship opportunities (31%). The Chi-square analysis revealed that age (χ² = 8.42, p < 0.05) and academic level (χ² = 12.64, p < 0.05) had significant relationships with students’ participation, while sex and religion were not significant. The study concluded that although students were actively engaged in academic aspects of forestry programmes, their involvement in extracurricular and voluntary activities remained limited. The study recommends prioritizing reliable internet and digital resources, targeted financial support, more frequent field practical’s, equitable allocation of field and research opportunities, and stronger internship provision to improve participation.